Over the past couple of years everyone is valuing their outdoor spaces even more than usual. With more time being spent at home and more people working from home, outdoor space is an even more important extension of your living square footage. If you plan on selling your home in the not too distant future, here are some staging tips so that buyers will be amazed when they tour your property.

 

 

Outside your front door is the first place all buyers will see. Make sure it is looking welcoming with a few small and relatively easy updates. Fresh paint on the front door is always a good idea and is something you can do on the cheap. Next, audit your lighting - do you have a nice fixture that looks good but also provides enough light for safety? Finally, if you have room for a sitting area, consider a small bench or pair of adirondack chairs that suggest one can enjoy sitting and enjoying the outdoors.

 

 

Once your entrance is spruced up, now focus on the yard. Make sure the lawn is mowed, flower beds have fresh mulch and all shrubs and trees are trimmed. If your yard lacks color, consider planting some colorful annuals for some life.

 

 

With more time spent in one’s yard homeowners are wanting to get more out of their outdoor spaces. Creating multi-functional areas is a popular trend with ideas like a seating area for a firepit, a dining area and a lounging area.

 

 

You don’t always need a big sprawling backyard for what one would expect for more urban properties. Turn a smaller deck or patio into an ideal place to enjoy morning coffee or for al fresco dining with a nice bistro set and a few potted plants.

 

 

Don’t just extend your living space, extend the time during the year that you can enjoy it. Consider adding in some good lighting with lanterns or string party lights. This will make for a better evening ambiance. Next you could get a firepit for those cooler evenings in the shoulder months. Lastly, for the height of the summer make sure you have some shade with an umbrella.

 

 

Keep anything unsightly like air conditioners, trash cans, or garden hoses hidden and out of sight. Try things like a pretty screen or lattice that greens can grow on for a living fence.

 

 

Important details to add warmth and interest are always key like an outdoor rug for your seating area, place settings for your table or toss pillows for your sofa. However, avoid overkill by not filling up every space where you risk it becoming too cluttered.